Thursday, November 15, 2012

15 November 2012 - Nowra Showgrounds, Shoalhaven, NSW


Our trip through to Nowra this morning was uneventful and we found our way through to the Information Centre to collect our permit to stay here at the showgrounds without fuss. We had been looking out for Chapman Caravans on our way through however I had incorrectly keyed in “Nowra” to the TomTom rather than “South Nowra”. The helpful woman at the Centre soon put us straight and we headed the five kilometres back down the Princes Highway.

Alas, the chap at Chapmans was most unhelpful. Chris has been concerned about the tyres on one side of the caravan wearing unevenly, and when we had them swapped around at Cooma, the tyre man there had explained that there was most likely something wrong with the axle. He was unfortunately not equipped to check it out but suggested we have it checked when we reached a more significant centre. Today’s man went on about tyre pressures being very wrong, and yet Chris has been following directions from tyre people. We did not expect Chapmans themselves to be able to fix the problem, however we did expect them to be familiar with the problem and able to refer us to the right kind of engineer. Chris was not very happy. We had specifically called at Chapmans because they are the Lotus dealers in this part of the world.

We called around to the local branch of BCF and had one of our gas bottles refilled. Here we received the usual excellent prompt, friendly and value for money service. It should be noted here that I am not being paid by BCF or any associated company to promote them.

While Chris was attending  to matters at BCF, I was approached by a couple in their mid seventies who had very recently purchased a brand new Lotus and were eager to hear about our experience. I was happy to oblige, however omitted recounting our very recent experience with Chapmans who had always given excellent service to these folk as they had traded their various caravans and motorhomes down through the years. Chris soon joined the conversation and we discussed various matters including some excellent tips about travel through the Kimberleys.

We parked up beside the Shoalhaven River on the southern bank and ate our lunch looking out through a screen of jacaradas, gloriously cloaked in their seasonal purple, at the houseboats and other river craft. Soon we headed up to these showgrounds and hunted around to find a level spot within reach of a power box and water tap. Power boxes are plentiful, water points not so. We set up not too far from another caravan whose occupants probaby said to each other,”With all this space here, why on earth did they have to camp so close to us!” Sound familiar?

From the rise here we can look out over the river and up toward the densely wooded mountains to the north. There are only half a dozen camping parties in tonight, however the showgrounds double as a popular recreational spot for all sorts, a lunch spot for those wishing to simply sit in their cars and lax out from their work, a dog walkers paradise and a park up spot for those with nothing better to do. Because of this, the security is not as it might be however the gates are locked on dark and security guards apparently lurk through the night.

We went for a wander about the grounds and out to the Hanging Rock Lookout here which also draws the non-campers . The rock formations along the river edge are quite spectacular and we will probably take advantage of Ben’s Walk that starts from here as well, sometime over the next couple of days.

Oh and while I think of it, we did touch base with our young Jackson last night; he proudly showed off his gifts which of course included toy cars and was grateful for his monetary gift from us. He tells us that we will think long and carefully before spending it.  

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